Is Tummy Tuck the Only Way? (photo)

Q: Hi, in the last 20 months I had my second/ last child and have worked hard to lose 90 pounds from my highest weight with my first pregnancy (four years ago). I eat well and am very health minded. I run between 15 and 20 miles a week and also stay active with yoga and cycling. My stomach has become a large deflated balloon attached to my stomach, I can’t seem to make it smaller or taunter… Is a tummy tuck the only way to make my stomach match the rest of my body, or should I just be patient?

A: Congratulations on all your hard work! What you are dealing with at this point is excess skin on your stomach and probably separated abdominal muscles (that would require a front picture to determine). All the diet and exercise in the world will not correct this issue – as you have no doubt found out. You have done your part – you have lost the baby weight and are focused on maintaining a healthy lifestyle. If you want a flat stomach at this point, you will need to consider a full tummy tuck (abdominoplasty). During this procedure, your plastic surgeon will remove excess abdominal skin and tighten the underlying muscles.